Student Presenters: Zain Al-Halawani James Henry Blattner

1. Students Talk about Developing a Social Justice Identity: Michigan Community Scholars Program (MCSP) AACU: Diversity Learning and Student Success: Policy, Practice, Privilege March 28, 2014 Student Presenters: Zain Al-Halawani James Henry Blattner Hannah (Nan) Boyle Meredith Burke Kimberly Cui Jeane Em Dubose Lello Guluma Mark Haidar Samuel LowenthalMatthew Williams David Schoem, Director Rebecca Christensen, Ph.D. Candidate, Researcher Jessica Weed, Coordinator, Community Building Maya Williams, Coordinator, Diversity Initiatives

2. MCSP Mission and Goals Mission Statement The Michigan Community Scholars Program (MCSP) is a residential learning community emphasizing deep learning, engaged community, meaningful civic engagement/community service learning and intercultural understanding and dialogue. Students, faculty, community partners and staff think critically about issues of community, seek to model a just, diverse, and democratic community, and wish to make a difference throughout their lives as participants and leaders involved in local, national and global communities. Goals Deep Learning: Engagement with Ideas, Ways of Knowing, Transition to College, Academic Success, Learning about Community Engaged Community: A Scholarly Community, A Safe and Accepting Environment, An Involved, Participatory Community, A Focus on the Individual and the Group Meaningful Civic Engagement /Community Service Learning: High Quality Service Learning, Reflection, Leadership Development, Sustainable Partnerships, Long Term Commitment Diverse Democracy, Intercultural Understanding and Dialogue: A Diverse Community, Participation in Intergroup Dialogue, Commitment to Strong Democracy, Reflection on Social Justice, Model Good Practice

3. Faculty, Staff and Student Leadership Director Associate Director Administrative Assistant MCSP-Linked Cross-Departmental Faculty (10-15) Coordinator, Community Engagement Coordinator, Community Building and Programming Coordinator, Diversity Initiatives Resident Advisors (7) Peer Advisors (18: 6 assigned to each coordinator) Peer Mentors (22)

4. MCSP Demographics 2013-2014 Toal FYS Student Leaders FYS 116 (70%) SOPH 43 JUNIOR 1 SENIOR 6 TOTAL 166 Sex Male 85 (51%) 70 (60%) 15 (30%) Female 81 (49%) 46 (40%) 35 (70%) School/College LS&A 144 (87%) Engineering 16 (10%) Other 6 (3%) ETHNICITY White 94 (56.6%) 69 (59%) 25 (50%) African American 25 (15.1%) 18 (16%) 7 (14%) Asian American 19 (11.4%) 10 ( 9%) 9 (18%) Hispanic/Latino 10 ( 4.8%) 8 ( 7%) 2 (4%) Native American 4 ( 2.4%) 0 ( 0%) 4 (8%) International 14 ( 8.4%) 11 ( 9%) 3 (6%) Students of Color 58 (34.9%) 36 ( 31%) 22 (44%) Intl. & Stdts of Color 72 (43.4%) 47 (41%) 25 (50%)

5. MCSP Seminar Courses Fall 2013 Creative Arts and Community - Julie Babcock, English Community Research - Rona Carter, Psychology Environment, Religions, Spirituality, & Sustainability - Jim Crowfoot, Program in the Environment Nonviolence: From Montgomery to the World - Scott Ellsworth, Afroamerican and African Studies Writing and Academic Inquiry: Food from Farm to Table - Christine Modey, English Environmental Literature - Virginia Murphy, Program in the Environment Social Justice, Identity, Diversity, and Community - David Schoem, University Courses College, Culture, & Sustainability: Living on a Changed Planet - Mike Shriberg, Program in the Environment ***The Student and the University - Wendy Woods, University Courses

6. MCSP Civic Engagement CoursesWinter 2014 Empowering Families & Communities - Rona Carter, Psychology/American Culture Project Community - Sociology Project Outreach - Psychology Intergroup Dialogue - Psychology/Sociology/University Course The Portfolio Project - William Alexander, English The Atonement Project - Ashley Lucas, Residential College Solar Cells Renewable Energy from the Sun - Jamie Phillips and Thomas Bowden, Engineering Green Engineering: Harnessing the Wind - Roger Dean De Roo and Rod Johnson, Engineering

7. Community Service Action Teams:Centered on education, reflection, and direct service with various issues. Each Action Team partners with a community organization. • Borders and Immigration • Environment and Sustainability • Financial Literacy • Gender and Sexuality • Human Rights • Rural and Urban Poverty • University-Community Social Justice FIlm Series Ongoing Community Partnerships • Neighbors Building Brightmoor • SHOCK Theater Troupe • Smile Bringer Singers • Environmental Community Program

8. Diversity Initiatives Programs (Planned By Our Community): • Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Circle of Unity: Celebrating the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. • Indian Fusion Dance Event: Surrounding the University’s Indian Theme • Detroit Exploration Day: Exploring museums and restaurants in Detroit • Activism in Detroit: Partnership with the Community Action and Social Change Planned By other Organizations on Campus: • Detroit Women Speak: A Community Film on Race, Justice, Gender in Detroit • Silesha: The annual Indian American Student Association (IASA) Dance Show • South Asian Association Network (SAAN): 8 students attended this fully funded conference

9. Dialogues and Programs • Dialogues: • Offensive Jokes and Slurs: How they affect us and others on campus. • Cultural Appropriation: Halloween Customs and their meanings. • Detroit Dialogue: Identifying Diversity in Detroit: Unpacking stereotypes/perceptions. • Relationships Dialogue: Conversation about healthy relationships, hooking up, and sexualized violence. • Social Class in Session: Reflecting on our status on campus. • Diversity on Campus: Exploring Race issues and relations. • Programs: • Stress Relief: Balance Massage Center: free massages and cookies for students • Study Abroad Presentation: Study Abroad work, volunteer and study opps. • Summer Presentation: Summer Opportunities on and off of Campus • Dinner with the Director: dinner with Detroit students about micro aggressions and climate. • Staff Mentoring: Staff met with each first year student in our program. • Tutoring: managed the tutoring program

10. Community Building Programs • Welcome Week: Low Ropes Course and Day of Service • Peer Advisors for Programming Board • Organize Community Building Activities for MCSP • Educational, Cultural, and Social • Create strong bonds with other Communities in East Quad Dorm and with our On-Campus Alums • Canoe Trip down Huron River • Football Watch party w/Alums • Day Trip to Cedar Point for Halloweekends • Winterfest End of Year Celebration • Cider Mill and Corn Maze at Talladay Farms • Annual MCSProm • Off-Campus Overnight Winter Retreat

11. Dissertation Abstract • Sample: 2013-2014 MCSP first year student cohort • Purpose: Exploration of how intentional and interconnected curricular, co-curricular, and informal diversity experiences in one residential learning community shape students’ social justice learning and development • Design: Case study methodology: Integration of survey, interview, observation, and document analysis data • Outcomes: MCSP students’ social justice conceptualizations, attitudes, and behaviors over the course of their first year in college

12. MCSP - www.lsa.umich.edu/mcsp/ Students: -Zain Al-Halawani: zainhala@umich.edu -James Blattner: jhblatt@umich.edu -Hannah Boyle: nanboyle@umich.edu -Meredith Burke: merburke@umich.edu -Kimberley Cui: cuikim@umich.edu -Jeane Em Dubose: jeaneemd@umich.edu -Lello Guluma: lkguluma@umich.edu -Mark Haidar: mrhaidar@umich.edu -Samuel Lowenthal: slowenthal@umich.edu -Matthew Williams: mrwil@umich.edu David Schoem: dschoem@umich.edu Becky Christensen: beckydc@umich.edu Jessica Weed: jessweed@umich.edu Maya Williams: mangelic@umich.edu